Can I still breastfeed?
In general, in case of inflammation of the nipple or mammary gland, which is accompanied by purulent secretion, it is not necessary to stop breastfeeding. As a rule, the infection is caused by bacteria that are also found in healthy babies as part of the natural oral flora. In addition, the mother can be given pain-relieving and antibiotic drugs that are also tolerated by the infant.
However, these recommendations must be considered individually and discussed with the treating physician, as different recommendations may apply to premature babies or children with chronic diseases, for example. In this case it may be necessary to pump out and discard the milk. Once the infection has subsided, breastfeeding can then be continued, so weaning is rarely necessary and recommended.
Duration
The duration of a purulent discharge from the nipple depends on the cause. A purulent inflammation of the nipple or mammary gland is usually due to a staphylococcal infection. Treatment is antibiotic, under which a significant improvement should occur within 3 to 5 days.
If antibiotic therapy does not respond, other diagnoses should be considered, so an abscess must usually be surgically relieved. In the case of therapy-resistant discharge, benign and also malignant tumors of the breast should also be excluded.
